The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-07-18
Names BusIness.

Mr.. M. N. Rich, Secretary of the Portland
Board of Trade, has the following review of
trade for the first six months of 1887:
The dry goods trade of this market has
been prosperous and there has been an I'M
usual demand and trade in the more expen-
sive fabrics and high cost fancy goods.
Portland has become market hardly ex-
celled now for these goods, and is becoming
an attractive market for even the most ex-
pensive fancy goods and fnery, lines not car
ried few years ago.
Since the beginning of the year collections
though fair have been retarded by strin-
gency In the money market
The produce business has been large and
profitable throughout the State, which has
encouraged the seeding Of increased acreage.
Greater attention is also being paid to fruit
in fact, small fruits are receiving more at
tention than ever before. The apple trade
OF Maine the past year was very profitable
to those engaged in this expectation.
All crop indications are remarkably good
Names greatest crop, the hay crop, will be
equal to that OF any previous year, or prom
1ses to be at this time.
The great sweet corn belt of Maine, IT,
finest in the world, confined chiefly witLln
York, Cumberland, Oxford, Androscoggin,
Franklin and Kennebec counties, Tor from
the Merrimac river on the South to Arson
on the North, and East to the Kennebec
river, comprising 10000 seeded acres more or
less. Is looking remarkably promising, and
there is little doubt but what there will be
not less than 1000, 900 cases, or 24O0O, 600
cans, packed in this state the present season,
the entire product of which is already or
Tered since it has become so universally rec
Ognized that nowhere else is corn raised so
crisp and full of milk as in this recognized
corn belt Of the southwestern slope of
Maine.
The growing business has been very great,
remarkably so the past month, and large
a IN lxr fba
hotels at the pleasure resorts.
The flour and grain trade has been rather
dull, dealers bnying. chiefly from hand to
mouth" in the hope of a decline.
The stock in this market on the first of the
month was only $1,000 barrels, which was
light for market supplying trade of 450,-
600 barrels year, and requiring for its own
consumption not less than 10000 barrels.
The usual number of vessels were fitted
for the fisheries the present, season, but the
mackerel fishing has been failure up to this
time, while the cod-fshing is a fair average,
with good demand at high prices. The
fishing merchants are still hoping for better
results from the mackerel fishery.
The numbering business is conceded to be
good throughout the State. The large cut of
logs. have all come down to the mills, and
good heads of water have got all the availa-
BILE mills going and there is prospect for a
good demand both for shipping and building
purposes. Shippers seem confident that
6OOQ RiltCo Will NC uldlubdiuCu Wullt tllt uu-
usual amount of building at home would in
dictate that fair prices must prevail here.
Our sugar refneries are realizing good
demand at better prices. Not only are all
the manufactures of the State running to
their full capacity, but new ones are spring
ing up on every hand.
No labor troubles or discomfort worthy Of
mention have been reported.
Not a. square-rigged vessel is building in
Maine, but few large class schooners are
being built for the coasting trade.
The steamship lines, which are being stead
lily multiplied, are doing a large and prosper
GUS business.
Our railroads are constantly increasing
their carrying capacity. The advance in
freights in some directions has created an ir-
ritation that it is hoped may be reconciled
very soon.
Losses from fire and other casualties have
so far been remarkably small.
While we have been comparatively pros
porous the first six months Of the year, the
prospective outlook is not only good, but ex-
tremely fiattering